All Blacks captain Kieran Read has opened up about his troublesome back injury, as he prepares to return to the side to face South Africa tomorrow morning.
Read, 32, missed his side's end of year tour finale against Wales in Cardiff last year, before having surgery on a bulging disc in his spine, only returning to rugby midway through this year.
With the 2019 World Cup in Japan drawing every closer though, the All Blacks' captain is aware that his injury needs to be managed, if he's any chance of being part of the attempt for a third straight William Webb Ellis Cup.
The management of Read's back even saw the All Blacks skipper sit out of last week's trip to face Argentina in Buenos Aires, instead travelling straight to South Africa for tomorrow's clash.
Speaking to media at his side's captain's run before facing the Springboks in Pretoria tomorrow, Read spoke openly about how the injury is affecting his time with the All Blacks.
The All Blacks captain is gearing up for return to the side this weekend. (Source: Other)
"The back's 100 per cent when I'm out there playing," he began.
"Just travel and a few things can stir it up so it's not 100 per cent.
"It's about 12 months before you actually start feeling like you were before, so I've still got a few months to go in that process but I look after it really well and it's all good."
Read and the All Blacks face South Africa in Pretoria tomorrow morning.
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